The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1887-04-20
STRANGE STORY.
Tbs Romance Of an ESCAPED Convict From
Jefsrscnvilie Psnltsrtiary.
a Prison Guard Receives Ten Thousand
Dollars and Liberates aLife-Sentenced
Murderer-Its Truth Verified,
louisville Times I

harQt, ABOUT ten miles rom the CITY OF Tie, Oh
the Csrpaihian Mountains. He registered at
quaint little inn, and wrote opposite
his name Jacksonville, Ind, l.. S.
A" After eating dinner, about such as
one would imagine could be found in
such quiet little hamlet, he walked out to the
veranda, near where the register stood on q
small, old-fashioned desk, and was soon inter
ested in the American Geographic news In
short time he saw the jolly old inn-keeper walk
UP to the register, and when he reached his
guests name he suddenly grew pale and looked
as if he had seen ghost. At length the land
lord walked over to the gentleman, and trem-
blingly asked what business he followed in
Jacksonville, ana how long he had lived there.
When informed that the American was merely
business man, and was only over on visit to
his old friends, the landlord heaved sigh Of
relief and the color came back to his cheeks.
Several days afterward the guest decided to
take ramble over the white-capped summit OF
a neighboring mountain. His host volunteered
to accompany him, and after several hours OF
weary climbing they found themselves upon
the highest point. Being tired, they sat down
upon a huge mosscoyered rock. Suddenly the
old man, whose hair and beard were silvery
white, and whose sep was tottering, turned to
his youthful companion and said, in strange,
unnatural tone:
"Do you know that have wanted to talk to
you for several days? l a. one time lived in
Jacksonville. Did you ever hear of Charles
Goetz?''
The young man replied that he had not, and
asked where and under what circumstances this
old inn-keeper could have been in America
After musing awhile the old man replied in re-
Spouse to the young mans inquiries:
"Wen. it's long story, but l Will tell it to
you, because am satisfied no harm can come
of it now. Ny mother was rich woman, and
was her only son. We kept this very same
hotel sixty years ago, and was born under its
ancient roof. In 1915 the New World offered
fattering inducements to our young men, and
after consulting with my most intimate friend
OF those days, William Gross, we concluded to
brave the perils OF an ocean voyage and the
dangers OF being scslped by Indians, and
despite the fearful entresties OF my aged mother
we went away. Oh, it was an awful thing for
me, We stopped in New York but there the
cry was Westward no. and toward the 0eei-
dent we turned our footsteps.
ARRIVING in Jacksonville we both secured
work with a butcher named John C. Steward.
wegot small pay and worked hard. Near us
lived young gardener banned Emile Hertz.
He had charge Of large summer garden. He
was good fellow, and we all soon became firm
friends. Every night, while drinking beer to-
gether, we would talk of the Fatherland, and
wish ourselves back at home.
zone night 1 remember it we'll was the
LIST OF March, 1s49, we came in town as usual.
The devil must have possessed me that night,
We were all pretty drunk, and at late hour
started for home. When near the outskirts OF
the city Gross called me aside and told me il
ever wanted to get home now was the chance
to do so. Hertz had money, he said, and it
| would be an easy matter to kill him and take
it. After much persuasion I consented. We
then slipped behind the unsuspecting man, and
| Gross struck him with Ratchet. The poor fell
low dropped without a groan, his brains be-
| scattering the sidewalk. Trembling with fear
we carried the body across a commons and
buried ii in a manure pile. That night sleep
never visited my eyes. All night long
| Icy and thought of the awful crime in WHICH I
ives participant We secured but two silver
doIlsrs from the dead body which we divided.
next morning Hertz was missed, and large
parties searched high and low for him. We in
our bloody clothes joined in the search to ward
| off suspicion. At length a small boy who drove
cart saw a human arm sticking out OF the
manure pile. The officers came, the body was
taken out and we were almost crazy lest we
should be suspected. The body was found to be
wrapped in my coat Ihsd thrown ii over his
face to keep of the dirt.
1--WE were arrested and the next morning were
given preliminary hearing in an old market
house near the river. Our clothes were bloody
and guilt was depicted on every feature. Well,
to make long story short, we were found
guilty, after the trial, which was taken to New
Albany on a change Of venue, and both were
sentenced to be hanged. was a bright-faced
youth OF twenty-four years-that was thirty.ive
years ago. Governor Wright committed my SEN
tenee to imprisonment for life
"ln June, 1850, poor Gross was hanged, and
was placed in prison, 1 wrote to my mother
and told her the whole circumstances. She
gathered together what money she could and
came to see me. She stopped at Louisville.
across the river, and hired detective to assist
me in escaping. 1t cost her $4,000 to get me
out but she did So A guard was bribed, and
he let me out one dark rainy night. We went
to Louisville. where got citizens clothes, and
after much tronble reached the Atlantic sea-
coast. We boarded ship, and l was soon on
my way to home and freedom. l married, aud
the pretty girls you see about you are my
daughters. They little know the terrible secret
l have kept for thirty-five years.
81 hardly know why have told you this
story, but you must promise never to repeat il,
at least not on this side Of the ocean,"
Mr.. Bremen told Times reporter Of the mat
ter, and intimated that he did not believe it,
thinking the old man was crazy. and that this
story was simply one Of his Authorizations. The
reporter, however, thought perhaps there might
be something in It, and searched among the
musty old records for the case. At length he
found it, and, after talking with a number OF
old citizens learned that every detail as given
in the old mans narrative was true. The name
OF the guard who was bribed was always thought
to be Ed Schell He was suspected by the
warden and was discharged. twenty-five years
later he came into prison convict, and served
two years for arson. He had set fire to his own
house in order to secure the insurance. He died
pauper
THE DISASTER AT DIEPPE.